"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation.

You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

Dr. Adrian Rogers 1931-2005

Thursday, August 3, 2017

I had the great opportunity to speak with a blogity friend from Canada last night. Oh my, I was so happy to finally hear her voice and to be honest listen for the infamous Canadian accent. I was not disappointed and must tell you that my northern BFF and her honey wanted to hear my accent! Crazy that I forgot that perhaps I may have an accent. Hmm...I'm a fast talker so maybe my accent was missed~but no. I was told I have some sort of an accent, but it mostly has to do with me being short (Kidding!)

To those that wonder, I really have no idea what my accent is aside from a whole lot of mixed up, as I was born in the south, raised in the mid-west, lived on the west coast, and now live in the southwest!

Perspective is important though, as we all were anticipating accents and none of us was disappointed!

Now for the much awaited almost always added random photo or two that connect nothing with the post nor the other photos~please enjoy as this is my brain on blogger!

We have needed them and they have been effective. Since a week ago Saturday I have been to the ER/Labor and Delivery and the OB/GYN(3x) with one of my pregnant daughters. The bacterial infection that they have been treating for a few weeks seems to finally have been beaten!!! My on-line footprint has been a bit scarce as these past weeks have been an emotional roller coaster for us.

The good news is that baby and mommy are doing fine.

Stay-tuned to some photo postings sharing some other things that have happened over the past week.

Friday, July 21, 2017

Have a lovely weekend and remember that a day of rest was given to us by
God, so rest in Him and regroup so you can work refreshed again.

Six days thou shalt labor and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it
thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy
manservant, thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is
within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, an all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. Exodus 20:9-11

And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath Mark 2:27

been a bit rough for people close to Bill and I. My precious Fourth ended up with an infection that left her with a temperature for several days following. One of my son's mother-in-laws had a massive heart attack last Thursday.

Both of these health scares kept me in prayer and away from home for several days and nights.

My daughter is doing well now.

The mother of one of my precious daughters(in-law) is also doing well, although she has a slow, steady course for recovery.

It is hard in the moment to stop and ask for prayers. In fact, it is hard when one has a moment to think to share the emotions as it may be too raw. What I have reminded myself during these past weeks is something simple. If you feel pressed to pray for someone, stop and pray for them. You need not know the reasons why.

Thanks to those that have been praying: now I am adding specific prayer requests, one for my Fourth and one for a woman that I share a grandchild with.

Thursday, July 13, 2017

The theme of the Otero County Parade is Tales of the West. Once again we will be entering a parade for the campaign. Since I love the theme, I am also going to add a float.

It sounds crazy but perhaps I have been missing out by never participating in parades other than watching.
Well, let me put myself in check. A campaign enters a parade to gain name recognition. We gave away water~which I had never seen before~with the campaign logo because it was over 100F by the end of the parade. I wanted to give those that came to the parade something useful as well as something that gives information.

I recognize that signs on a vehicle do not make me a skilled float contender but it definitely triggered my brain with many ideas for upcoming parades.
I love this year's theme and have completely planned our float. I cannot share too much aside from the fact that a straw bale or two are part of the float.

Stay tuned as I am certain I will be posting a few pics down the road.

Tuesday, July 11, 2017

I think I am going to write this as a bullet post to be different this Tuesday.

I have a great bloggity friend. Seriously. We have never met but from the beginning of my blogging I have known him. I owe him an email but am composing it in my head and so I will post here first. Glenn, your post humbled both Bill and I. I am rarely at a loss for words. In fact, some people have called me a fast talker~lol. But this time, I am slow to speak, and deeply moved by your post. Please stay tuned.

I had lovely hanging flower baskets off the front porch. That is until a pigeon began to nest there. One thing I have learned (of literally thousands of things), since moving to the farm, is that we live here with the critters. Some we have raised here, others dwell here because it is their home. Perhaps the water troughs about the property brought them here, or the feed tossed to the critters, or maybe, just maybe they have been here forever. It is not for me to disrupt their lives if I can help it. For those that think I am a softie or whatnot, you are right. I believe that the critters that live within the borders of the Double Nickel are under Bill and I and deserve the best most respectful treatment possible. For the record~even the snakes deserve this which is why if they do not breach the areas that are animal/people places on the farm, they are free to be. Here is a post that shares the cold hard truth about snakes~and me. By the way, I am going to post a separate post about the little pigeon chick that hatched, as I thought he was a goner with the dogs, but he is back!!

I hate divorce. It is not just the couple that endure a divorce but the family, friends and children as well. Another thing I absolutely cannot stand is the peers of those divorcing. They champion the one going through the divorce building up what a loser the spouse was, and how much better things will be now that they are apart. I find a better idea is for those going through a divorce to pick people older than themselves as mentors to either walk them through the divorce or walk the couple through counseling. I am not suggesting that one should remain in an abusive marriage, but our friends often tell us what we already believe or what we want to hear. The friends are also not in the home with the children when the children are dealing with the loss of the family. Perhaps another day I will post completely on divorce but I will use God's Word not my own opinion.

The county fair is right around the corner. I am slowly but surely putting together my entries~as I am a county fair junkie. I am also preparing for two things we have never done. We are going to have a booth at the fair this year, as well as a float in the parade. We also will have a campaign truck once again, but the float~well this is totally new. I have my drawings of how I want it to look. I can't wait to build it! Okay this is for Bill~what I mean, is I can't wait for you to build it :)!!

I have been on a reading binge. Boy oh boy I have been reading so much. I have stacks of books by my bed. I think when I close the last one from this new group of thrift store book finds I will take a break!

Definitely not my deepest post on deep thoughts but the post is about things I have had thoughts on. Seems like I have more, but to be honest I am thinking about other things and need to get moving on them! Have a great day and here is a bonus photo to wrap up the post today:

Monday, July 10, 2017

The wreath that is by the front door is made up of a pack of clothespins, some buttons and the floral wreath thingie you can buy at Wal*mart for under $3.00. The burlap bow is repurposed from another project.

I painted the clothespins, then glued on the buttons and then placed the pins around the wreath. I attached a simple wire holder saved from a bread bag.

Friday, July 7, 2017

I was far behind our campaign group as I was walking with a wee one, then I was walking in the crowds handing out campaign leaflets.

While walking, smiling and generally quite content I saw a few things that changed what I was doing. I know why we were in the parade, but sometimes even when you think things are about your goals, something humbles you.

I saw several men wearing this hat:

Photo credit: ushonor.com

I stopped thinking about my purpose and went and gave each one a hug. These men weren't young men anymore. They were older, some with canes, some with oxygen, yet they were standing and supporting our community and its Independence Day Parade.

Throughout the parade route I saw men wearing hats like this. While I am thankful to have the opportunity to share Bill's campaign goals I cannot forget that people matter. Over the years, I have spoken to veterans that have carried great pain because they survived when their buddy did not. I pray that my hugs to these men, as well as what I said, allowed them comfort. It is not their burden. Life is hard enough without attaching burdens that aren't yours to carry.

With that, my very first parade that I was not on the sidelines for, made me very aware that the story is often not what is in front of us, but behind the scenes.

Saturday, June 24, 2017

I am a pumpkin pie junkie...once a year a few days after the first day of summer. June 24th to be exact. I thank my mom for my addiction. Over the years, I have shared that perhaps she had a pie in the freezer and my birthday rolled around and she used the pie as a quick fix. I really don't know the reason but I continue to create a legend around the origin of my cake for my birthday as it is not a cake at all but a pie!

This is one of my birthday cakes pies that Fourth decorated for me.

Usually on this day, I share a number of things about me corresponding to how old I am, but wow, fifty things?! I am up to the challenge so for all those that read sorry in advance!

My list will run from thought to thought and in no means in order of importance or priority. To add that at the beginning, my faith is my foundation and my Bill is my love. Now let's see if I can share things I have never shared about me~

1. Okay I have a weird one to start with...my wrists-I really don't like to have them touched. Weird. It gives me the creeps. Why? Not for me to know. 2. I am the same with my navel or ombligo as we call it in our house. 3. We are an English speaking family but have many words that we borrowed from Spanish that we use as our primary word for an item. See #2. 4. I have dark brown eyebrows. Now you may not think anything about this, but I have for the most part of my life had blond hair...and now gray. 5. Oh and those eyebrows? I have never plucked them or done anything to them. They are something I pretty much forget about. 6. I have no patience. I can't even pretend. I do accept that things aren't happening when I want them to but it is hard. I will admit Bill was sitting by me at this moment, and he told me to have patience~and I remembered this nugget! 7. I love Robert Frost's poem The Road Not Taken. 8. Rosemary. I have been becoming a rosemary herb fan on many different things. Thankfully we have a few rosemary plants about! 9. My brother Pete used to drive to school in mom's old station wagon. He spray painted it black-with flat finish! Anyhow, he would give the two neighbor boys a ride and me as well, but I had to sit in the back if they came. Final info bit-he had converted the back with a piece of plywood, so I had to sit with my legs crossed and my head did almost hit the ceiling. 10. One day, when it was only Pete and I in the car, I was granted front passenger seat privilege. As we were driving a snake dropped from under the glove box onto my feet. It a flash, I was over the seat near the back door (in the back of the car), pushing to open the door. Pete was yelling at me, Let me stop, let me stop, as I was going to jump out of the moving car! It was a harmless snake-but still gives me flashbacks!

Ten down...

11. I love reading. 12. I am not trying to be judgmental, but when I visit others, I look for their books. For me, it is to see if we share interest. If I see no books my heart skips a beat. Now, many have their books on tablets, so this isn't a tell tale sign anymore if a home lacks books. 13. I have lists of books written down and thanks to Amazon a huge amount saved for later. Currently I have a few to reread that I want: Animal Farm, 1984, and The Innocents Abroad. 14. I have Mark Twain still as one of my favorite authors. 15. I am on a reading frenzy again, and have been reading a book a day for about a month. 16. I love history books as well, and buy used ones the older the better. 17. I am tucking this here because the scholarly world may mock this: I love Wikipedia. You know why? Because it is a launching spot for my random brain. If I want to read about a town in Ireland, I begin there. The links below take me on trails of learning! 18. Every day when I read the news I will find a nugget that takes me to Wikipedia and then I add to the something new I learned today files. 19. I am a libraryaholic as well. Oh the rows and rows of books awaiting my brain to open the pages. Sometimes I will go the campus library and start in one row and challenge myself to find ten books that are about something I know nothing about...it is amazing how little I really know! 20. If I find an author I like, I will scour the thrift stores to find as many of their works as possible. I am a loyal reader to a good author.

Twenty down...

21. I am a tad obsessive about organizing...not everything but things that make sense to me. 22. I like to have the spices in alphabetical order. 22. I need to hang the clothes the same way, and I used to keep the closet like color coordinated. Since we have the wee one, this one has gotten away from me...sigh. 23. I have been planning Bill's campaign for a long time, so putting it to paper is amazing. I love my notebooks, folders and bag to take me to the next step of the campaign. 24. I like the same a lot as in repetition, even in what I eat. Please remember that someone could have a time analyzing me...understand! 25. I think in patterns and see patterns in situations as quick as I see actual events. half way through..........26. My middle name is not Ann nor is it Lynn. When I run into a Jennifer we end up sharing our middle names, and no Jennifer I have met shares my middle name. 27. I am a person that wears my emotions on my sleeves. If I am heartbroken I cry, if I am overjoyed I cry, if my children say something sweet to me I cry, if another speaks about my children in a kind way I cry...I've cried once today because of a text! 28. While writing this post, I am doing what I always do. I am doing several other things. I began baking the pie. I am reading the news. I brought Millie in for a snack. I am snacking while waiting for my breakfast pie. I chatted with Bill. I read some Face*book memes. I am mentally planning a letter to Third. I am thinking about my mom...and on and on and on. 29. The triple digits have been horrible on my plants. We have been at 106F 105F 106F each day...poor plants. When the wind blows in these temps it feels like when you open the oven when you have it on broil. 30. I love clever ideas. I love seeing people create innovative ways to solve problems!

Thirty down...

31. For the first time (because I kept the cats away from it), I was able to grow two avocado plants! I am so happy. 32. I love yards. But I love warmth and sunshine more so I chose to live where it is hotter and less people have yards. 33. Bill gave me a back yard a few years ago...it is heaven and I walk in it barefoot. 34. We are planning to have a front yard too. I love when people say use it all for something you get a return from. You see, I get a return from the yard. It is a mental return. I grew up where you didn't water and things grew because of the rain. Here it is a valiant effort. I realized I needed the yard for me. Oh and it cools the house, allows for the critters to have a place that is not scorching and brings color to the desert. 35. I love onions. Recently one of the grandsons was here and found and onion and bit it like an apple. Oh my maybe I will have a conspirator in my love of these delish treats! 36. I love sitting on my front porch with Bill and chatting about everything and nothing. 37. I love flowers. Sadly, this year the heat has been brutal and most have not survived or are struggling. Also my hanging flower baskets were appropriated by birds and two have nests in them. I stopped watering them for the birds...even though the baskets look rough, I do not want to disturb the momma and her eggs. 38. My sister told me in a text to set up my voicemail. I laughed and then texted her, I forgot the password and it helps me as I am terrible about remembering to check the voicemail. I am thankful most can send a text to remind me. 39. My daughter texted me the most amazing text and she posted on fb...I am thinking I will be sharing. She is such a sweetie pie. 40. I am a pajama person at home. If I have no plans to go anywhere I will wear the pj's all day...until about 10 minutes before Bill gets home.

Forty down...

41. Wow~getting older is hard! LOL ok for forty-one, I like raw fruits and veggies much more than cooked, steamed or whatnot. I did not realize that the raw foods would be a craze, I have been this way since I was a girl munching on the raw veggies right out of the garden. 42. Bill has my heart. It has his named etched over and over and has made breathing amazing. 43. Bill has my eyes. I see life as his wife and best friend in a way that I never saw life before. 44. Bill has my body. I suppose I need to apologize on this one as it is c-section scarred, round, and not the same as it was 29 years ago! 45. I hope I wasn't being impolite on the previous statement. It is not any other reference than I am his and he is mine. 46. I wrote to the President. Sadly, I have not received a response. 47. I love hearing my Bill when he is talking to the animals. He is such a compassionate man. 48. I love Brussels Sprouts...a late in life discovery and a great one. 49. I do not feel older nor does hitting 50 make me freak out. The thing that bothers me is when someone will post a photo of someone famous and say how great they look...and I realize I am the same age and look older etc. 50. I am thankful that this is a once a year posting as thinking of new things each year is hard and easy.

I am 50 today.

I am a wife.

I am a mother.

I am a grandmother.

I now will add that someday I will become a great-grandmother.

I love life and am thankful to have been able to reach 50. If I have but one birthday wish, it would be that those that meet me will know first and foremost I am thankful for the Blood of the Lamb and that I do my best to walk with God. I am not perfect but that is what I would pray that people would know about me.

Friday, June 23, 2017

Tonight Bill announced he is running for Sheriff on the Republican ticket of Otero County, New Mexico.

I am asking my readers if you would take the time to swing by his website and make a donation. As citizens we have been asked repeatedly what is needed for the country, and what can we do to make America great, to borrow from President Trump. Bill's answer is simple. Start at home.

Bill is running for Sheriff because change happens at home. Not to stir up people into causing a riot, but by simply rolling up ones sleeves and figuring out what needs to be done and doing it.

I thought I would share the text of Bill's announcement speech while we are awaiting the video:

For those of you that don't know me, my name is Bill Garza and I am here today because of a couple of decisions I made in 1988. But before I get to explaining those decisions, tonight, I am formally announcing my candidacy for Sheriff of Otero County.

Now back to those decisions. I met my wife and two days later asked her to marry me-that was my first great decision, and the second-right after we were married I told her that one day I would be Sheriff. Since that time I have been working towards that goal.

Let me explain.
I am a family man, married almost 29 years to my best friend Jen, and we have 4 children, and 2 grandchildren, oh and one more on the way, due in late September, early October.

I served honorably in both the Army and Army National Guard. I have been in law enforcement on both the administrative side and the street for 23 years.

Over the following year you will learn much about me. My mentors, great leaders in their communities, will share their thoughts on my abilities.

But more importantly you will learn that I have a motto I have lived by. Honest and true in all that I do, and I have instilled this into my children, my grandchildren will learn it...

and as Sheriff of Otero County I will continue to apply it.

Thank you for your time. I look forward to serving as Sheriff of Otero County.

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

as you go about your day. I recently saved a photo that was of a receipt from May 9, 2017.

I saved it from someone on Face*book, and to be honest cannot remember who posted it. I am going to write about it here because this is my personal space to share my thoughts.

Now all of my adult life I have been pro law enforcement. I know many have opinions that aren't the same as mine and may even have stories to back up their opinions. My opinion is based on my experience with my husband and family connected to the badge.

Our country is at a point where hate seems to speak louder than love. When we hate we stand and SCREAM from every corner, even if our hate may be stirred by false reports, the media, or even high ranking politicians who do not wait for facts but escalate emotions.

I do not support this. In spite of others, we must be the person that we are. Our character must remain intact.

When another tells us something we disagree with, we need not lower our standards.

That is what happened when this person did not tip the waitress. They based their tip on her opinions and not the service.

They acted upon hate instead of love. Now I am not some hippy singing person that thinks we all are going to be loving and kind. Even Jesus turned over tables in the Temple. But not liking cops is an opinion and based on the evidence-the receipt, that was the server's only flaw.

I am so against this and how the waitress was treated. I wish we could find this waitress and correct this action. We don't even know who did this...or if it was done by one behind the badge. But what we do know is this, times are quite different than they have ever been. Social media seems to encourage negative treatment much more quickly than positive treatment.

I challenge everyone to stand to be a better person than even you think you are. Rise to your potential instead of lowering to the gutter.

And with that, I will carefully step down off my soap box and get back to my day job of being Gigi to a cutie pie that is currently playing in a box instead of the toy that came in the box!

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

for four of 10 members of the family. Now that the kids are now adults we do things differently. Bill and I have a theme each year and the first member of the year to have a birthday is First's sweetie and from her to the end of the year everyone has the same type of birthday.

It doesn't change that in my brain I still see my kids as wee ones and they have my heart and it smiles so much. But I am content that the usual birthday meal I have made for First for about 25 of his 28 birthdays was made by his amazing wife this year.

On to the Birthday group posting~
Dear First, Happy Birthday my handsome sweetie pie. Dad and I love you and are so glad that you are doing the things you are doing. You changed our lives all those years ago and gave us our new names of Dad and Mom. Thank you.

Dear Second, Happy Birthday to my handsome cutie petootie. Dad and I weren't even sure we would ever be able to have another child after First and then surprise you joined the family!! You changed Dad's and my name to Papa and Gigi with your lovely sweet little G1. He makes me tear up with how much he has my heart. Thank you.

Dear GI, Happy 2nd birthday to you our firsty grandbaby!!! You are such a light in the family and you make us all happy. The first time you said Papa and then Gigi you gained something you don't even realize, as we would do anything for you~even at our ancient ages!

And finally, the last birthday for the month of June is the writer of this post. I am hitting a big milestone according to the world. I suppose it is a big milestone but for me it is simply another day that I can have some pumpkin pie with cool whip.

What unites the four of us is something that is pretty neat. We all have something that makes us first. Our First...was the first baby. Our Second gave us the first grandbaby. Our G1 is the first grandbaby and I am the first one that was born in the entire Double Nickel Farm family as I am the oldest~even older than my Bill. Well not by much but in the eyes of the youth it is enough to make me seem like I have a foot in the grave. For the remaining Farm Family~as we are all so competitive I am certain you can rebut this post with some first's of your own, and I expect to hear about them soon. For Third, I expect in your next letter after I send you this post, for you to send me a response~

Challenge on and ps...I love each and every one of you more than I can even put to words.

Happy Birthday to the Four!!

Bonus Photo: BedHead Fashion Show:

Bill, Second and I did a really simple birthday this morning for G1, we will be celebrating the birthday with the family soon, but today we sang and gave him cake for breakfast and gave him his little riding rocket car. But the prize photo of the morning was when he wanted to wear Papa's work socks rolled up a bit so they fit. He loves to copy Papa in the morning, by shaving, brushing his teeth and putting on the socks...

ps...to my little sister who also shares a June birthday~for June each year you are a member of the Farm family. Love you and will never forget how much better life has been since you were born.

Monday, June 19, 2017

never, not in my town. It seems like human nature causes us to ignore reality at times. When Bill and I found our southern New Mexico home we fell in love. We did check the crime stats and weather and all the things one does before moving. It was a very safe place and to be honest still is a safe place to live.

But, and this is a biggie, we may have had the glasses of small town America on and somewhat have ignored the reality that bad things can happen anywhere at anytime.

Yesterday, our community had another wake up call. We had an active shooter that engaged with law enforcement and citizens. This shooter then holed up in a local pistachio ranch/ business.

I have written about McGinn's and even sent care package from McGinn's here and there about the country. While fleeing law enforcement the suspect locked himself in the business with 14 citizens to include one small child.

There were no fatalities. There was a massive crime scene as it spilled on the highway with an accident, shots fired, and a hostage situation. Madness can and often happens pretty much everywhere.*

We must never forget this. We must be ever vigilant to our surroundings and live life but with awareness and not so into say our cell phone that we miss cues that could leave us safe when a crisis arises.

Be smart. Be aware. Be safe.
To the local law enforcement and first responders~thank you so much.

* Disclaimer~this is an active criminal investigation and what I shared is my narrative quite short and without much details. My information came from Kenneth Bass: News FLASH Alamogordo UPDATE - June 19, 2017 From: Community Radio 95.1 FM - KALH Ken Bass reporting News and Commentary

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Dads are pretty important so I want to wish a very special Happy Father's Day to my goof troop's dad...also known as my Bill.

To my sons and I mean to each one of you...being a dad is such a wonderful thing to be and all of you are amazing~have a Happy Father's Day.

I have a million things I could say about how incredible dads are and that none have to be the same or do the same things. In the eyes of a child a dad is and can be everything. Take time to appreciate this and because some never have the blessing of having a dad in their lives.

Monday, June 12, 2017

I went thrifting the other day and picked up $8.00 worth of books. Some were directed towards youth but I found Lincoln's Grave Robbers fascinating. I don't recall ever learning that there was an attempt to steal Abraham Lincoln's body. I guess in the scheme of things it really didn't matter because it was unsuccessful.

I haven't read the book yet, but I have spent time online researching this little nugget from history and what I am amazed at, is how the plot was uncovered. We think that because of technology that everyone knows our every move-which is most likely true, but in times past the nature of man allowed for the same information to spread.

With that, I challenge you to read for yourself about the attempt and discover how the plot was uncovered.

About Me

I have been married to my best friend for nearly 29 years and we live on a small farm in the middle of the desert.
We have four children (now adults) three daughters-in-law, two grandsons and look forward to many more added to the fold.